Monday, 28 November 2011

I was recently kindly provided with a sample pair of the Comfort4Men men's tights from Germany.

I would say that the thought and care which has gone into the design and production of these tights is remarkable. It is clear that every detail has been considered, to ensure that the final product is one that is perfectly adapted for the male anatomy. The health and wellbeing needs of men buying these tights have also been considered.

"I worked in the fashion branch for many years and was always surprised that fashion and health care products such as support tights were only ever made for women. Support stockings and support tights would also help men to get through the day more comfortably if they have to sit or stand.

My story begins with a relative who suffered a serious thrombosis. From this point on he needed to wear medical compression tights. As no difference in fit was made between women and men, they were very uncomfortable to wear, particularly in the genital region. Up to this point in time apparently no-one had troubled to find a solution for this problem. This was the basis for my idea.

Tights are ‘unisex’. Although in the world of fashion women have ‘taken over’ tights, they were originally exclusively men’s clothing. Today there is no reason why a man should not wear tights."

Another unique feature of Comfort4Men is that you can 'individually design' your tights using features from several variants. As you can see in the picture below, you can choose between 40, 60, 70, 80 and 140 denier, as well as a choice of compression support. There are also low and high waist options and a choice of shades. Not only that, there is also a choice of gusset colour and whether you want a fly opening or not.

It is really laudable that a manufacturer has shown such a commitment to the men's tights market.It was quite a task to choose a pair of these tights to review but I eventually went for the C405M model:

70 denier

High waist

Dark brown

Black gusset

No fly opening

Materials and featuresThe tights I tested are 70 denier but looked more like 80 denier. They are very (but not totally) opaque but not very heavy or too hot to wear. They are made from 90% Polyamide and 10% Elastane. The material is extremely soft.

The tights have an extremely comfortable 4cm waistband. The toe is reinforced and has a comfortable flat seam.

The gusset, crotch area has a flat seam and is made from very soft, comfortable material. This area also stretches to accommodate the male anatomy. A rear comfort panel also provides further comfort and ensure the tights fit well.

When worn the tights have a very slight sheen.

Fit and sizingThe tights come in three sizes: 4, 5 and 6.

I am 5' 10" and tested a pair in size 6.

The fit was perfect. I have worn these tights on several occasions now and they are incredibly comfortable. In fact, they are so comfortable that when I put them on I feel as if I have a pair of bespoke tights that have been personally designed just for me.

The high Elastane content means that they cling extremely well to the legs and don't need pulling up during the day. They glide well under trousers.

ConclusionDespite their relatively high cost I would give these tights the highest recommendation. The care that has gone into their design has paid off and these are genuinely tights made for men, as opposed to some brands of 'unisex' tights. They are robustly made and will last for a long time so one would get plenty of wear out of them.

The price of these tights is comparable to the men's tights made by Gerbe. I would say they are as good as Gerbe if not better. If you are a man and haven't worn tights before, try these and you will be converted immediately.

Saturday, 26 November 2011

The UK Wolford Partner Boutique is once again offering a special deal on the Wolford OPAQUE 70 tights. They are not normally sold by Wolford and are a seasonal special.

These tights cost £16 and there is free, same day UK shipping.

I have bought two pairs of these tights in Extra Large this autumn and they are superb quality. Great fit, warm and very comfortable. The matt appearance is a bonus and the tights can easily pass for socks if wearing under jeans or trousers.

It's also worth knowing that the Wolford OPAQUE 70 tights are also available from Tights Please at £14.99, although Black is only available in Extra Large. On Monday 28 November, when Tights Please have their 40% off Flash Sale, these tights will be available for just £9 while stocks last.

Thursday, 24 November 2011

I mentioned earlier this week that I would be providing news of a further fantastic offer from Tights Please.

I can now reveal that for Monday 28 November only there will be a special flash sale with 40% off everything! This offer will be available for that day only and will include everything until stocks last.

This is a great opportunity to get a huge discount. Tights from the more premium end of the market, such as Wolford and Falke will be available at bargain prices. So do visit Tights Please on Monday as this is an offer that is not to be missed.

Price: £16.39. This is a a special 20% discount price that end today. Then the tights will go back up to the usual price of £20.49.

These are part of Aristoc's new range of opaque tights.The Black colour is available in Extra Large.

Remember that Tights Please also have FREE UK DELIVERY until the 25th November.

If you read the Hosiery for Men blog regularly you will want to look out for an even better offer from Tights Please that I am going to share with you in a few days. Believe me, this one really is an amazing opportunity and will be available for just one day only.

Our friends at Tights Please have just told me about a great new offer.

Tights Please have recently launched their very own range of essential tights, including opaque and sheer tights. To celebrate this new range, they are offering a free pair of Tights Please Tights with every order over £15 until the 29 November!

Tights Please also have FREE UK DELIVERY until the 25th November. Tomorrow I will blog about my recommendations for men for a £15 spend at Tights Please.

Friday, 11 November 2011

I have blogged before about the excellent quality tights made by Philippe Matignon. What you can be sure of when buying Philippe Matignon tights is that the quality will be excellent and you will be getting a top class product.

As a man buying tights for himself I am always looking for a product that fits well, is durable and comfortable. I discovered Philippe Matignon tights when visiting Spain where they are always stocked in the El Corte Inglés chain of department stores.

Materials and featuresAccording to the packaging, these are '40 denier semi-opaque pantyhose'. They are made from 88% Polyamide, 9% Elastane and 3% Cotton.

The tights have a fully shaped leg and are sheer to waist. They have flat seams and a slightly reinforced toe.

The appearance is glossy but not excessively so. The fabric used is very high quality; soft but also strong and durable.These tights, like all those made by Philippe Matignon, will last and last.

Fit and sizingThe tights come in five sizes: 1, 2, 3, 4 and XL which has a rear panel.

I tested the XL size in Cognac, a warm tan colour.

The fit was superb: excellent length and a generous brief. I have worn these tights on three occasions now and was really impressed with how comfortable they are. The high Lycra content means that they cling well to the legs and hardly need any pulling up during the day. The gloss appearance also provides very good glide under trousers.

Colour rangeThese tights are available Cognac, Nero and Playa Nature.

Price and availabilityThese tights cost US$21.00 from the online store that now ships internationally.

Hosiery for Men has been offered a special discount code which I can share with you. To get an amazing 25% discount, use the code 'Press25' when purchasing through the Philippe Matignon online store.

ConclusionI was very impressed with these tights and they met all of my requirements. They are perfect for cool days, when it is not so cold that one needs thicker opaque tights.

Wednesday, 2 November 2011

I have already mentioned Eve's Legwear at Hosiery for Men and had remarked on their great customer service for men buying tights for themselves.

I am now pleased to publish an exclusive interview with Eve, the owner of Eve's Legwear. Do check the Eve's Legwear website and get in touch if you have any hosiery needs you would like to discuss with Eve.

Why did you set up Eve's Legwear? I used to work in a hosiery and leather department many moons ago and this is where my interest in and love of nylon first arose. I noticed that all the popular styles sold out as they hit the shelves and then customers would be left disappointed when they couldn't find the size, colour or style they required. It was at this time that the idea started to form. Being an avid lover of nylon, I became increasingly frustrated about not being able to find suitable hosiery on the high street. The feedback from others reflected my own experiences. Hence the creation of my web based business. It took the death of my Nan to spur me on and forge forward as she always believed in the concept in which I had created.

Are male customers buying for themselves an important part of your customer base? Do you welcome their custom at Eve's Legwear? Here are Eve's Legwear we have an increasing number of male customers. We welcome these customers and are currently extending our range to accommodate them. We are currently sourcing new products to add to our site. We have also taken advice from our male customers as what products they would like to see. To us, male customers are a very important part of our customer base, and are treated no different from any other customer.

Are there any particular styles of tights or brands that are popular with male customers? In all honesty the styles vary across our whole range due to personal taste. Some male customers prefer the slightly thicker tights, whilst other prefer to wear sheers.

What kind of service will male customers receive at Eve's Legwear? Do you welcome enquiries and requests for advice? We offer a discreet service at Eve's Legwear. There is no company information on our packaging to ensure the contents are not known.

We always welcome enquiries from male customers and are always happy to receive feedback from them on how we can improve our service to them and we will happily take on board any comments and feedback they may have and accommodate these where possible.

What are your thoughts on men wearing tights? Men have been wearing tights for centuries. In my opinion there is no reason why this should change. If a male chooses to wear tights it is his prerogative and he shouldn't be discriminated against for doing so. Men who wear tights come from all walks of life from the fishermen wanting to keep warm on the river bank to business suited executives. Each and everyone of them has a right to wear tights if that is their preference.

Many thanks Eve. We look forward to seeing the new products on the website. Thanks for your support for men who buy tights for themselves. It's great there are a growing number of retailers like Eve's Legwear who cater or us and value our custom.

Materials and featuresAccording to the packaging, these are 'semi-matt, opaque unisex microfibre tights' made from 16% Polyamide and 14% Elastane. The tights come in a transparent, resealable storage bag.

The tights have conventional seams and there is very slight demarcation in the material between the legs and the brief, but this is really not visible. As with Zara & Zac 100 denier opaque tights the waistband is rather narrow but not uncomfortable.

I found the material to be quite shiny; they are definitely more on the shiny side that matte.

Fit and sizingThe tights come in three sizes: Small, Medium and Large (a gusset) and XL which has a rear comfort panel.

I tested the XL size in Graphite (Grey). They fit extremely well and the high Lycra content means that they cling well to the legs and hardly need any pulling up during the day

Price and availabilityThese tights cost €10.95 from Amazon Germany. They are also available in the UK from Legwear4Men for £9.49.

ConclusionThese are good quality tights - great fit, well-made and very comfortable under jeans or trousers. However, the price at nearly £10 does seem slightly high for what you are getting. For example, the excellent Marks & Spencer Autograph 60 Denier Velvet Touch Opaque Tights are cheaper and better quality, with flat seams and a comfort waistband. You can read my review here. For less than £6, the Charnos 60 Denier Opaque Tights are also great value.